Safety system for railways.



PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

G. LAURENZO.

SAFETY SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILE D MAYQ. 1905.

INVENTOR mom/Em GEORGE LAURENZO, OF VISALIA, CALIFORNIA.

SAFETY SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1906.

Application filed May 9, 1905. Serial No. 259,550.

T0 at LU/b07711 it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE LAURENZO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Visalia, in the county of Tulare and State of California, have invented a new and useful Safety System for Use on Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an original safety system for use on railways for automatically preventing the accidental side-tracking, derailing, and collision of trains. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of the mechanism set up on one side of the track which is clear within the block of railway or stretch of road protected by the system. Fig. 2 is a, similar view with the block not clear. Fig. 3 is a side view, and Fig. 4 a top view, showing the closing of a switch. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the track is not shown; but it is supposed to run from side to side of the drawings, as in Fig. 4.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

To the ties A A, Figs. 1 and 2, are secured, as by bolting, the short standards or brackets B B at a convenient distance apartsay a mile or twoand stiff L-shaped double arms 0 D are hinged on a pin in each standard and so set that when G C are vertical, as in Fig. 1, D D are horizontal and pointing away from each other. On the pin and securely fastened to the L shaped arms is a toothed wheel operating a chain, as shown in Fig. 1, or instead of the toothed wheel a pulley operating a band or strap fastened to the pulley, as by bolts or screws. Rods, chains, cables, or other means F F G G, crossing each other and suitably hung to prevent sagging and unnecessary friction, connect the top end of the piece of chain, band, or strap which passes around the toothed wheel or pulley at one end of the block with the bottom end. of the piece of chain, band, or strap which passes around the toothed wheel or pulley at the other end of the block.

An arm P, fixed horizontally underneath or on one side of a locomotive or car, (indicated by the arrow M,) entering the block, as in Fig. 1, will strike the arm 0 and turn it down. The turning down of C at the entrance of the block turns up the arm D and by means of the connectives F F and G G immediately turns up the arm D at the other end of the block, as shown in Fig. 2, in which the connectives F F and G G are not shown. A

lever N on the side or underneath the locomotive M, set horizontally and in front of the arm I, but higher up, will when entering the block, as in Fig. 1, pass over the arm C without touching it. Upon leaving the block, as in Fig. 2, the leverN will strike the extensionarm E, which being hinged to the end of the arm D by a pin will yield and turn down, allowing the lever N, suffering no change in position, to pass over it. A spring or gravity weight will bring the extension -arm E back into line with the arm D; but the arm P on the locomotive M striking the arm D, as in Fig. 2, will reopen the block, leaving it as in Fig. 1. If when the block is not clear, as in Fig. 2, another locomotive should enter from either end, the lever N on the entering locomotive striking the extension-arm E, which from the outside of the block is unyielding, would be turned back. Rods, wires, or other means on the locomotive and connecting the lever N with the other levers shut off the power, apply the brakes, blow the whistle, ring the bell, &c., as desired. To further prevent accident, a danger-signal is displayed at or beyond each end of the block. The signals are operated simultaneously by the mechanism aforesaid, being connected by suitable rods or other means.

The burning or collapse of a bridge or trestle within a block protected by this system will allow a weight or weights to fall therefrom, which will operate the L-shaped arms and display the danger-signals through the connectives F F G G. An approaching train would thus be warned and if it should heedlessly enter would be automatically stopped and prevented from plunging into ruin. A switch being accidentally left open, as shown by the dotted track in Fig. 4, is automatically closed by an approaching train and passed safely.

I am aware that prior to my invention block systems of signaling have been used on railways. I therefore do not claim a block system broadly; but

I claim- 1. The combination, in a safety system for railways, of a pivoted L-shaped crank, set up by the track, one at each end of a block or section of the road and turning on a pin through the angle of said crank and through brackets fastened to the railwayties; a sprocket or pulley fastened to each crank and turning on said pin, each made to turn in opposite directions by a crossed continuous cable or like means with chain'passing around said sprockets, or belt passing around and secured to said pulleys; a rigid pin on a locomotive or train to engage one arm of an L-shaped crank, and turn it down, so turning the other arm up, and by means of said cable turning the arms of the crank at the other end of the block or section, for the purpose of operating signals set up by the track, all substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a safety system for railways, of a pivoted L-shaped crank, set up by the track, one at each end of a block or section of the road and turning on a in through the angle of said crank and through brackets fastened to the railway ties a sprocket or pulley fastened to each crank and turning on said pin, each made to turn in opposite directions by a crossed continuous cable or like means with chain passing around said sprockets, or belt passing around and secured to said pulleys; a pivoted extension to one arm of each crank, a spring or weight to hold said extension in line with the arm carrying it when said arm stands upright; a lever on a locomotive to engage said extension so that when said locomotive passes out of the block or section the said extension will yield and allow said lever to pass by unaffected, but should the locomotive enter the block or section when said block or section is not clear, the said extension, being rigid from the outside, will turn down the engaging lever on the locomotive, for the purpose of stopping a train when enterin a block or section not clear, all substantia ly as described.

3. The combination, in a safety system for railways, of a pivoted L-shaped crank, set up by the track, one on each end of a trestle or bridge, and at a convenient distance therefrom, said crank turning on a pin through its weight to hold said extension in line with the arm carrying it when said arm stands upright; an incombustible weight or weights setting on or under said trestle or bridge, and hanging on said continuous cable, which is suitably supported a lever on a locomotive to engage said extension, so that should the trestle or bridge be destroyed, as by wind or fire, the Weight by falling would pull said cable and so raise said extension of each Le shaped crank, and should a locomotive enter the block or section of track when said extension is raised the said lever on the locomotive would be turned back for the purpose of stopping the train, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, in a safety system for railways, of a pivoted arm or L-shaped crank,

set up by the track at a convenient distance from a switch, and turning on a pin through brackets fastened to the railway-ties a wedge in a suitable slot at the switch, a cable or like means connecting the lower end of said arm or crank with said wedge; a rigid arm on a locomotive or train to engage the upper end of said pivoted arm or crank, and turn it down, for the purpose of closing the switch,

if said switch is left open, all substantially as set forth.

GEORGE LAURENZO',

Witnesses T. E. CLARK,

BLANOHE MELBURNE. 

